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Today is a special day indeed, as enlightened animal lovers everywhere are celebrating World Animal Reiki Day. The day was initially tagged as such by SARA (Shelter Animal Reiki Association), and every year there are events and demonstrations organized by the association to help raise awareness of Reiki and its benefits for pets.

Everyone has innate healing abilities so, even if you haven’t received Reiki training, you can still celebrate Animal Reiki Day and do some energy work with your animals.

If an animal doesn’t like to be touched (like Khan, here!) channelled energies can be sent from a distance.

Channelling healing energies (which is essentially what Reiki is) is actually very easy. When I’m working with an animal who has a chronic condition, is nearing the end of life, or is recovering from some sort of trauma and needs energy work on a consistent basis, I’ll suggest that their human use the technique below in between my sessions. Bonus: you can do the following regardless as to whether or not the animal is physically present:

Get comfortable – sit down, or find a comfortable standing position – and make sure that the palms of your hands are facing up and are open. Try not to lie down, though (chances are, you’ll end up falling asleep as you become more relaxed). Being uncomfortable can interfere with your concentration and thus, your ability to channel.

Imagine that the Universe itself is sending you Love energy. If you like, you can imagine that this energy is streaming down from the sky in the form of a beam of light and that it’s entering your body through the top of your head (your Crown Chakra).

Now imagine that the Love is moving down through you and is pouring outwards from every cell of your body.

Know that this energy is flowing to your pet, whether they’re right in front of you, or are many miles away. Know that the Love from the Universe is reaching them and that if they choose, they can accept the healing that it brings.

Continue to channel the energies for as long as you want. When the animal has received all that they’re able to, the flow will slow down and stop. There’s no end to the Universe’s supply of energy, so you can channel for as long as you need to.

One of the fascinating things about channelling healing energies for others is that anytime you do so, you yourself receive some of the energies as well.

Use this technique as often as it feels good to you. Try it today in honour of World Animal Reiki Day!

We have gathered you round for a time being, to relent and lay with all that is good, all that is bright and marvelous and ever present-of-mind. We guard you now against all ills that may come to pass, and we ask that you, in your folklore and good candor of spirit, pay us respect for the treaties we have laid at your tables.

You cannot sit any longer. You are being called to action. It is a time of urgent care. We must not stall any longer. You are governing your own thoughts, your own anger. You must parlay into cruelty or overstep your bounds and come govern with us. (Glendor shows an image of his paw extended to us.)

The way is true. I myself have governed in a way that best serves you, and you too shall make headway for yourselves in a way never before seen. It was you who took up the chalice, you mighty few who stepped away from the curb, out into the wilderness, to be a safe space for all who are coming.

We ask you now to greener pastures, to a wilderness less wild, and glories less common. We ask you to lay seed in the dirt, and wash your hands of the goals of the many. We ask you this, in the name of one Creator, the god of many.

A very happy new year! I hope all of you got to cuddle with someone special (and fluffy!) over the holidays.

The new year always has me thinking about the past – things that I’m proud of, things that I wish I could change, decisions that were made, things that were said (or not said), and people who came into my world or moved out of it.

This year, I’m thinking about some of the mistakes I’ve made. Growing up, my parents used to advise me and my siblings, “Always learn from your mistakes.” I also remember some of my elementary school teachers using the phrase, “Never make the same mistake twice.” I can’t count the number of times that I’ve failed that second piece of advice – and not just in the past year. I’m constantly making the same mistakes over and over again, but with different people, in different circumstances, and in slightly different ways.

I see other people around me doing this too. It doesn’t seem possible to learn everything that we need to know from a mistake the first time around. The complexity of our mistakes and their lessons often requires us to repeat many variations of them – at least, until we’re able to understand them in their entirety. Until we’re able to fully comprehend them, we continue to attract the same kinds of relationships, fall into the same habits, pursue the wrong career paths, misuse our time, sacrifice our health and happiness, etc. Such repetition isn’t simply human nature – it’s necessary.

Every time I make a mistake that I’ve already made in the past, I learn something slightly different from the situation. I come to recognize new warning signs that were displayed early on; I see subtle similarities between my contributing behaviour in one situation, and my behaviour in another; I suddenly understand and accept my emotions around certain decisions or outcomes. Every mistake – and every version of a mistake – has its own unique purpose.

These Christmas lights were a mistake.

Animals are accustomed to this aspect of human life. They know and accept that we’re slow learners. It takes us some time to finally get that we need to play more, spend time in nature, not take life so seriously, eat better, establish regular sleeping patterns, let go of our anger, be friendlier with our neighbours, explore the world, share our toys… Our animals have signed a spiritual contract that they will keep teaching us the same lessons as many times as we need them to. They will continue barking every time we sit in front of the tv; they will continue begging for food and becoming obese; they will continue developing cancer; they will continue racing out the door every time it opens; they will continue shredding every newspaper that we leave within their reach… They’re patient little monsters.

I try not to beat myself up about it anymore, this repetition of history. There’s no human on this planet who is enlightened enough that they’re able to learn everything they need to know from their mistakes the very first time around. Such a human simply doesn’t exist at this point in time, as far as I’m concerned. (Maybe it’s one of the reasons we’re given one hundred years to live, and not just ten or twelve.) The healthiest thing is to learn from your mistakes – as my parents used to say – and move on. On to the next one, or the next version (whichever one you’re ready for).

Wishing you many old mistakes – and a few new ones – in the new year!

<3,

Avril

Little Ones, you have been through some rough patches. The past is come to get you. You need not worry though, all is clear. The future is yours to improve upon as you see fit. Now is not the time to come to odds with one another. Now is the time to repent and rejoice, for the happy hour is near.

If you see fit, blossom into the opening of a new dawn. Be not ill at ease with your fellow henchmen (and women). They are already in the dowdy turntuff of the changing tides. They will not abandon you, nor you them, if it comes to mustering of strength.

Be prepared to sharpen your swords, dear friends. The land is soon upon us. Be prepared to sharpen your wit, your sense of clarity, for the ill-advised will soon lay upon the sand. Put all in order you do not care for, and step out onto the rock. The tide has come. Be thankful you are taken care of, and hide not in the waters deep.

Do not lessen your strengths, dear ones, do not ambush the impersonator. Be clear in who you want to represent you. Be not judgemental in the portrait of disgrace. Be wise in your retrieval of words. All will come to you, as it does to others.

Children of the Light, you are supposed to summon us on your journey of aches and gains. We are there for you in times of mistrust, in times of wellness and in health, pleasure, and despair. We know this journey is not a light one of no consequence. We have come to shelter you from undue stresses and contemplations. You cannot know each strife until it is yours to bear.

We have cause for concern when our children are at unrest, at untidiness, in their workplace. Glory is yours for seeking companionship in this unchartered world. We are yours for the taking. We are strong and good and fast. We are your guardians, your Guides and Angels, and we keep you in high waters, high esteem when you need it most.

Do not despair, Little Ones, for your time is not wasted. Be glad of your upbringing, and all the fruit it bears. Be glad of your children, and your children’s children. They will reap the rewards of your making, of your standing in the shadows, slaying dragons. They will honour and restore you for all that you have restored in their world.